THE Israeli military has reportedly set up a “holiday village” for its soldiers in the heart of Gaza.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth was given access to the compound, which is based not far from the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
Images published by the newspaper, which runs the online website ynet, show Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers enjoying a “hotel-like” experience with access to the internet, washing machines, coffee and candyfloss and popcorn machines.
Soldiers reportedly enjoy “rich breakfasts” which are served "like at a hotel”, while lunches and dinners are cooked on a barbecue which “run[s] non-stop”.
The compound also has a café, a dentist, a barber, shower rooms, massage rooms and a room with a PlayStation console.
Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s eight refugee camps, has been the site of an intense Israeli offensive since October 7 last year.
On Friday, we told how Israeli troops stormed one of the last hospitals operating in the northernmost part of Gaza, before “setting the hospital on fire”.
Israel has denied the fire was connected to IDF activity, saying that its forces were carrying out a “counter-terrorism precise operation” in the area of the hospital, but that they were not inside the hospital itself.
The IDF said repeated claims that Hamas fighters were operating inside the hospital, though it provided no evidence and hospital officials have denied the accusations.
Commenting on the report, Yedioth Ahronoth was described by Haaretz journalist Gideon Levy as an “IDF newspaper”.
He said: “The soldiers are resting from their bloodcurdling work of destruction and killing over a glass of XL provided by the army.
“On the other side of the fence – a hell of their own creation; several hundred meters from them – human beings are dying of starvation and cold, and here in the village, there's sweet cotton candy.”
‘We give a feeling of home here’
ACCORDING to the report from ynet, soldiers come to the resort around every 10 days for the day, before returning to the nearby combat zone in the evening.
One IDF soldier in charge of making the food for soldiers to enjoy in the refrigerators told the newspaper: “You remember being in Gaza, right? We give a feeling of home here, with iced coffee, espresso, protein drinks, toast and flavored shakes for breakfast, and of course fruit and ice cream when the weather is hot.
“We are making dreams come true for fighters here.”
An IDF spokesperson told The National that the facility is “temporary” and will be closed “once the operation in Jabaliya is completed”.
The spokesperson said: “The IDF is operating to restore security to the citizens of Israel, to bring home the hostages, and to achieve the objectives of the war while acting according to international law. “The frontline logistics centre mentioned in the article is a temporary facility intended to provide support to IDF soldiers operating against the Hamas terrorist organization who have been beyond enemy lines for extended periods of time.
“The centre enables the advancement of logistical capabilities to the combat zone and the repair of equipment, along with medical assistance and food.
“Once the operation in Jabaliya is completed, the centre is expected to be closed, just like previous centres similar to it.”
